SANTA CLARA — The head start belongs to Brandon Allen, but if Joshua Dobbs has proven anything after a whirlwind 2023 season it’s that he can learn on the fly.
Dobbs, who graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering from Tennessee in 2017, is vying with Allen to be the backup to 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy. He’s an aspiring pilot with 35 hours under his belt who has put that pursuit on hold for a chance to provide air support for the defending NFC Champions under coach Kyle Shanahan.
“There’s actually a lot of crossover,” Dobbs said following practice Wednesday. “You talk to the FAA, they repeat a call, you’ve got to say it back to them very specifically. You’ve got a lot of stuff going on. It’s like you’re in the pocket and you’ve got to call one of coach Shanahan’s plays. They get real wordy.”
Allen was the backup for Purdy last year, and he’s had a year in the system as well having played in Cincinnati which has some 49ers-like features on offense.
“I think everyone knows Kyle’s offense is difficult at times to get down and be comfortable in,” Allen said. “It comes with reps and studying and having that whole year to come back and be in the same system has been good. I’m definitely more comfortable with the verbiage. I’m able to call plays a lot easier.”
After seven practices, it’s too close to call to determine which quarterback would step in should disaster strike with Purdy. It was a better day offensively Wednesday after two turnover-filled sessions on previous days, including seven interceptions from Purdy.
There were no picks and it was an efficient if not spectacular session. Purdy was 8-for-9, Allen 9-for-14 and Dobbs 7-for-9. Tanner Mordecai, an undrafted free agent from Wisconsin, got no work after getting a few snaps on Tuesday.
The remainder of training camp, a scrimmage in Southern California with New Orleans and three preseason games will determine the final pecking order behind Purdy.
Not surprisingly, Allen seemed to be in the lead after the first few practices, but Dobbs has gradually come around in terms of accuracy, efficiency and learning to be precise footwork that ties into the timing and rhythm of the passing game.
Allen signed quickly for a chance to be back up Purdy, and Dobbs was added later with a $2.25 million bonus after starting for both Arizona and Minnesota after he was originally the training camp backup in Cleveland. Dobbs was traded twice and as he put it has “learned four offenses in a span of 365 days” now that he’s with the 49ers.
Dobbs was traded from Cleveland to Arizona last Aug. 24 and started for the Cardinals until Kyler Murray’s ACL healed, then was dealt to Minnesota to step in for Kirk Cousins after a torn Achilles.
“It seemed like every time you got settled it was like, ‘OK, let’s go learn a new offense, learn new teammates, learn a new city and try to get reacclimated to go out and play,” Dobbs said.
Dobbs ended up starting 12 games, passing for 2,464 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for two teams. He had some very good games and some rough landings, but overall wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
“It’s not easy to do and obviously he did pretty well being thrown into tough situations like he was last year,” Allen said. “I’ve known Josh for a while. He’s really smart, picked up the offense pretty quickly and you can see he’s dialed into what he’s trying to do on the field.”
The Aiyuk saga
Before practice began, hold-in wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk made his way to the field and exchanged greetings with both Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
A contract agreement? A fond farewell maybe?
Perhaps neither. Aiyuk sat in a golf cart and watched practice, with Deebo Samuel coming over to visit for a time. There were no announcements by the 49ers or national reports indicating anything had happened with Aiyuk with regards to a contract or trade.
#49ers Brandon Aiyuk just walked to midfield and dapped up John Lynch & Kyle Shanahan pic.twitter.com/eB6OmbxfW9
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) July 31, 2024
Moody getting his kicks
Jake Moody continued an almost flawless camp by converting all three of his field goal attempts. He has missed only one in seven practices, with ESPN reporting he is 20 of 21. His long was a 55-yard attempt on Tuesday.
With only one kicker in camp, the 49ers haven’t spent an inordinate amount of time on field goal attempts, with Moody also working on keeping kickoffs away from return specialists as much as possible as the 49ers adjust to the new rules.
In an interview with 49ers flagship station KNBR, Moody talked about the difference coming in with a full offseason as opposed to the combine-draft-49ers off-season-regular season whirlwind he experienced as a third-round draft pick out of Michigan.
“Last year was tough,” Moody said. “Personally, I take some time off in the offseason, kind of like a pitcher in the MLB. I like to take a month off without kicking the ball, but last year I didn’t get that because I had the combine, the workouts with different teams and I had to stay ready for anything. I really didn’t get an offseason last year.”
Special teams coordinator Brian Schneider can see a difference.
“It’s always fun seeing guys in their second year come in when camp starts,” Schneider said. “I saw it in Jake. It’s just a whole different feel where their body feels like and how comfortable they are. They know exactly what it looks like.”
Practice notes
— First-round pick Ricky Pearsall Jr. made an acrobatic sideline snag with one hand on a ball thrown by Purdy while being defended by Ji’Ayir Brown.
— Wide receiver Ronnie Bell had a few impressive catches, including a touchdown from Allen in a red zone sequence.
— Second-year linebackers Dee Winters and Jalen Graham continued to flash as they compete with veteran De’Vondre Campbell to replace Dre Greenlaw as he rehabs his torn Achilles.
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— Rookie third-round pick Dominic Puni continues to work as the starting right guard and he had some solid sequences in one-on-one blocking drills.
— The 49ers worked in pads but had a shorter session heading into a players’ off day Thursday.
Resting or injured
— Besides Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams (holdout), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave missed his second day of practice due to undisclosed reasons. Missing practice due to rest or injury included guard Aaron Banks, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, tight end Logan Thomas, running back Isaac Guerendo, offensive linemen Jarrett Kingston, Spencer Burford and Jon Feliciano and wide receiver Jacob Cowing.
